Lancaster remembers VE Day

Crowds gather for communal singing the day after VE Day in Dalton Square, Lancaster.'This picture was loaned by Mrs M. Tennant of Lancaster who worked in the Guardian office from 1944-48.'The photo was taken by Guardian photographer Harry Hodgson.

Published:11:03Thursday 14 May 2015

Lancaster commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with a ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance on Friday.

Ex-servicemen were among a small crowd who laid individual red roses on the memorial, 70 years after Victory in Europe Day.

A wreath was laid on behalf of the Royal British Legion by Philip Broomhead, a 1944 D-Day veteran, and two minutes’ silence was observed with the lowering of the Legion standard.

Raymond Hirst, Lancaster branch president of the Royal British Legion, said: “We are here to remember the members of the Armed Forces who made the supreme sacrifice so that we may live in peace today.

“We also remember the injured, the bereaved and all who suffer as a result of the war.

“And we must not forget the civilian services, Merchant Navy, Royal Observer Corps, RNLI, ambulance service, fire brigade, police, the Bevin Boys, Women’s Land Army, munitions workers and all the other vital organisations and people that helped with the war effort.

“It was a period of great stress and hardship. We give our grateful thanks and pay tribute to everybody, especially the Armed Forces, who with great courage, hard work and dedication made Victory in Europe possible.”

Union flags flew from Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls to mark the date.